Tag Archives: “Millersville University”

Checking in January 22 to say whew, this month is flying! I did a brief wrap-up of 2012 in my last blog and also just published a piece in FigLancaster.com about trying to pick from all the great shows so far this year. You can see it here and then rejoin me in the here and now.

City Dwelling Nature Seekers 1/12/13 at DipCo

It’s a freezing, squeeze the tears out of you cold day today. I started with a dentist visit then made some rounds promoting Pirate Rob’s Birthday Bash. We both went to World Café at the Queen in Wilmington Friday to see Lovebettie, Sweet Leda, Sylvan Wolfe and Noelle Picara. The show was called Ladybug Festival, staged by Gable Music Ventures. The show rocked, we hung with the bands, and Rob gave me a box full of cd’s, download cards and posters to promote the Bash. I hit Millersville’s WIXQ, CI Records, Mr. Suit Records, PA College of Art and Design and Puff n Stuff with a pile of each. If those aren’t your haunts, you can download the 19 song collection for free on the homepage of Gigspots.com. I must say it’s a great compilation of rock, rap, hip-hop, soul and bands that blend it all.

Freezing and starving by two o’clock, I rolled into 551 West to check the place out. It’s love! They feature 20 craft beers on tap and the menu is extensive without being overwhelming. Courtney told me they sell a lot of burgers and recommended the soups. A+ for this young lady. The crab bisque was unique and perfect: a remarkable bisque with a solid three-ounce dollop of fresh crab resting on top. I let Courtney sway me to the house specialty burger too: excellent patty, toasted bun, ample bacon and cheddar, sliced fresh jalapeños and…peanut butter. Yep. Call me crazy but I tell you you’re crazy if you don’t take a swing at it. 551 West is where Kegel’s Seafood used to be, that funky corner of W. King Street. There’s plenty of parking out back. They’ve been open 16 weeks and have live music on the weekends.

I’m headed to Harrisburg tonight for Robert Earl Keen. This is the kind of show that compels me to buy a season pass to Greenbelt Events. He just doesn’t play that many shows, anywhere, so it’s super flattering to have him visit our capital. I am committed to making sure that Greenbelt gets my support as they regroup. Last year, the pass was the best $100 investment I made. This year’s will have paid for itself by March! You should check their schedule and consider a pass of your own!

It’s Wednesday, the wee hours of 1/23. I’m back from the REK show and he and his band were magnificent. Here’s a quote straight from their Facebook profile: “These songs are real,” he says. “They’re hand-made. When people come to see us live, they’re seeing the people who created them play them and that’s not all that common these days. It’s the kind of magic that doesn’t happen all the time.”

I must agree; what they do is magical onstage. But there is no illusion. Everything is as genuine as dirt. Robert Earl Keen and his band played their asses off and I thank them for it. If you get a chance to see them, take it.

In a month filled with great shows, City Dwelling Nature Seekers at DipCo resonates with me on several levels. I’ve been a fan for over two years and spent the best part of a year asking Fryth to book them. It’s risky booking a Pittsburgh band in Lancaster; who will know them? Well, the house was full, the band sounded great and everyone was satisfied. I finally got a copy of their 2012 album The Winter Year and again, the band has managed to surpass their last effort somehow. It’s very pleasing to me to see bands I admire continuing to grow. My hats are off to you fellas, and I hope you come east again very soon! You can see videos from the show at http://www.youtube.com/user/Gigspots1